Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 30-01-2012

I would like give an enlightening answer to the question, “Despite my being on the spiritual path and surrendering to my guru why there are moments when I feel God is beyond my reach and that I am alone?” Now I shall reply: “Dear friend, a feeling of surrender to the guru’s grace and constant concentration or focus on him makes it impossible for any feeling of distance or frustration because when surrender to the grace of the guru is total, it gives great joy and happiness. If there is a feeling of loneliness the fault is entirely yours. Without getting over your desires and attachments you seek to scale Himalayan heights. Change this and increase your devotion till you reach such a state of complete surrender. May you grow in your devotion and reach full fledged “Saranagathi”!

{Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan}

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 03-01-2012

I would like to clarify something about the perception of Time. If you were to ask “What is time?”, I would find it very difficult to answer. Humans measure it in years, months and weeks. Yet when something can be achieved is always a question mark .You cannot predict it with certainty. This being so, it is not possible to fix a time limit. There are modern methods of calculation, planning and presenting these plans when a project should be completed. Still, to reach completion a superior power has to automatically assist the execution of these plans. This superior power is God’s grace. This being so, you must never waste your time. You will not get this golden opportunity again. You must realize this. I am not the only one saying this. Others who are of a high spiritual level also say this. I would say it is good to always remember this and act on it.

{Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan}

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 07-12-2011

I repeat a strange question I have heard “While working to progress spiritually is there any kind of discipline that is compulsory?” I do not understand this question. Have you forgotten that discipline is the foundation and basis of the spiritual growth. Discipline is reflected in your thinking, in your choice of words, in your actions and will ensure that your boat of spiritual growth is not rocked. It will not allow you to speak unnecessarily or move with wrong kind of people. It will encourage you to manage on your own as far as possible. You will automatically become cleansed or purified. There is yet another definition for “ozhukkam”. It also means “ozhugi varuvathu”. If you were to say it in English “uninterrupted” flow would be the form. Discipline is shown through continuous regular habits. It becomes habitual. It also means you must unceasingly think of God. “Is this possible?” you may all ask. By chanting mantras you can achieve this. I would suggest that you keep chanting mantras silently within yourselves. The thought of God will never leave you. If you stop thinking of God it only means that your minds are not pure.

{Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan}

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 09-11-2011

I would like to say is that for those who surrender completely, the planets will cease to affect you. If you take to meditating, Japam and complete surrender I shall assure you there will be no harm caused.

(Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan)

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 13-10-2011
There was a good question asked,”Which is the best method of worship? Which is better: mantra or tantra?” I would like to answer this question. There are three ways of worship. To visualize God in your mind and worship Him supersedes the mantric or tantric ways of worship. I have mentioned before that the inner chanting of mantra is the best method. Next to this is tantric pooja. This consists of saying mantras to yourself and making the corresponding mudras with your hands. Third is that of chanting mantras. The second is a little difficult. And if the mudras are done even a little inaccurately, the benefit will lessen accordingly. So it is best to start with chanting mantras, then progress to tantra and finally to mental worship.

(Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan)

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 23-09-2011

I would like to answer someone’s question: “What are the hurdles we face when we aim for liberation?” There is not much to analyze or think about. I would like to say that the most precious treasure you have is your life. Anything else comes after this. Riches and silver cannot serve as food, nor can they help you in difficult times. When everything deserts you, life is perhaps the last to do so. Anything to which you are attached matters less than life. So you must try to become free of all attachments including your attachment to life itself.

(Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan)

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 19-08-2011
I noticed an unusual question.” Though there have been great poets and saints who have written great literature, ‘Thevaram’,’Cheyyulgal’ or songs of prayer , why is importance given to the jester type of poet? “. A ‘Vikadakavi’ should not be undervalued, because with humor and simplicity he is able to convey important truths to the layman. We must remember this. Today when people find it difficult to understand a verse of the Thirumandiram fully, such a poet is able to understand it and present it attractively with humor to the common man. Hence I feel his contribution is of great value. Please keep this in mind. Don’t just see the humor at face value and be dismissive, but reflect at length on the inner meaning.

(Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan)

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 23-07-2011

Once again I would like to set right a particular confusion by giving a clarification. In the path of spirituality, just the way a person sheds one habit after another, so he must learn that if he worships several forms of God, step by step, he must reduce the number. Finally when he comes to worshiping only one form or two, he may feel a little lost or as if he is in some kind of vacuum. He must go beyond this stage. If he still feels that something is missing I would like to emphasize that this should not be so. If you do your sadhanas correctly, when you move from ‘roopam to aroopam’ or to formless worship you should feel only happiness. Remember if you don’t, it only indicates that you have as yet to reach this spiritual stage. I advise you to intensify your efforts towards this goal. Can you think of using text books of junior classes when you go to university? When you reach a higher level it is not appropriate to follow the sadhanas of a more elementary stage. Though this is not a hard and fast rule let this be a guideline for your spiritual path.

(Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan)

Gurunathar’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 25-06-2011

Another question has been repeated here. “Since there are several births for those who have died why should we conduct shradham or devasam pooja on their death anniversaries for more than five years?” When you do this it is for your mental satisfaction .In the forthcoming years on that day distribute food (anna dhanam) and dedicate the accruing benefits (punyam) to the respective soul wherever he or she may be. I shall say this would be a good practice. The hungry must be fed. There is no distinction between high or low where this is concerned. There is also no difference between man and woman. Hunger is common to all. When a hungry person has eaten well and blesses you it is indeed a good blessing! My belief is that if you practice this it will do you good.
Some others believe that according to orthodoxy (acharam) when a person in a family has passed away the others should not go to any temple for a year. I feel this is foolish. What is the connection between one person completing his or her destiny and the other’s relationship with God? The Saivaite belief and my doctrine is that when a person dies and the necessary ritualistic ceremonies are completed, he should go to a temple. Saiva Siddhantha proclaims this. I would say, others who mention differing practices could be various acharayas or from other religions. True spirituality as I have mentioned earlier begins where religion ends. If I say this, it is only based on the fact that those of you, who come here, come to seek progress spiritually. Before ending my talk I would like to clarify something.

A person who performs Manasika pooja (mental worship) asked me “While performing mental worship can it equal the religious practices conducted in a temple?” I would ask, why not? Why can they be not performed? If your heart is the temple, your breath is the music of the nadaswaram, the heart beat is the mridangam, our different nerves are the articles used for the pooja and the light your eyes can see become the arati. If you can develop this tendency, your heart will become a very good temple. After achieving this, you will not feed the need to go to many other temples. The person who has asked this question still wanders in search of a temple because his mind has not reached that level of maturity, I would say.
(Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan)

Gurunather’s Divine Message Ashwini Pooja 29-05-2011

I would like to give an elucidation: “Do we have to light up a lamp everyday at home?” Some seem to wonder, “Will not Friday or one day in a week suffice? This job seems to be an added job”. This is a wrong attitude. The ‘deepam’ or lamp is equal to the sun or moon. Every morning and evening it needs to be lit in every home. It should be done in the early morning when the sun rises and in the evening with the coming of the moon. For we must remember it is to welcome them both. Since we cannot see properly in the dark and often feel a little fearful nobody likes being in darkness. With light one can see clearly all around and our fear goes-does it not? Similarly the fears in our life are chased out by the light of our lamps. This has nothing to do with faith or the lack of it. The lamp gives light which in turn is illuminating knowledge. Does it not seem a little foolish to say, “Is it enough to light a lamp or seek knowledge on Friday alone?”. Since you require light, Knowledge, an absence of fear and joy every day I shall advice you to light a lamp for one hour every morning and evening.

(Translation of Gurunathar’s Divine message given to and read by Guruji Shri.K.V.Narayanan}